Electric sign-socket flasher



May 31, 1932. LUDWIG 1,861,159

ELECTRIC SIGN SOCKET FLASHER Filed Jan. 22. 1931 INVENTOR AOUIIS L udwfl TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS LUDWIG, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ELECTRIC SIGN-SOCKET FLASHER Application filed January 22, 1931.

The invention relates to electric current interrupters. lVhile I am aware that the prior art discloses various types of flashers, these are invariably separate and apart from the actual socket in which the lamp is inserted and, when adjustable, must be removed from the lamp socket to be adjusted. The present invention has for its main object to provide a flasher which forms a permanent part of the actual lamp socket and to so construct the socket that it is'particularly adapted for use in signs and the likes, and in which the flasher can readily be adjusted for frequency of interruption without neither removing the lamp used in the socket nor the socket from tie sign. Another object is to provide a device of strong and simple construction which can be manufactured at a low cost.

These and various other objects and advantages will be readily understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which, however, certain modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a crosssectional side elevation taken on line 11 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 2 a similar section taken on line 22 in Fig. 3, Fig. 3 a bottom view of the socket wlth the cap removed, and

Fig. 4 a top View. Referring now to all the views, simultaneously, the device consists of a socket member 10 and a cap 11. These parts are preferably made of porcelain or other insulating material. The socket member is moulded with a circular chamber 12 at its upper end and a. substantially circular chamber 13 at its low er end. The socket member is also provided with a head 14 and an external thread 15 on which the internal thread 16 of the cap fits. It is evident that when the socket member is inserted in the hole in a sign in which it is to be employed and the cap screwed up tight that the whole device will be securely attached'to the sign. When so used, a lug 17, which is formed under the head 14, prevents the socket member from turning.

A threaded, metal ferrule 18 is inserted in Serial No. 510,456.

the chamber 12. A center strip is cut from the bottom of this ferrule to form two flanges 19 and 20. These flanges fit in nests moulded in the bottom of the chamber, as plainly shown in Fig. 4. Eyelets or rivets 21 and 22, which pass through holes in the web 23 which is formed between the two chambers, secure the ferrule in the chamber. The eyelet 21, which passes through a hole in a long boss 24 reaching almost to the open end of the chamber 13, also secures a terminal plate 25 in which a terminal screw 26 is threaded. This terminal plate, and screw, is located in the lower chamher.

A center contact 27 is located by a nest 28 and secured in the upper chamber by a screw 29 which also secures a bracket 30, contained in the lower chamber. This bracket supports a thermostatic metal strip 31 by means of a screw 32. Ears 33 and 34, which are formed on the bracket 30, correctly locate the thermostatic metal strip.

A resistance wire 35 is wound on the thermostatic metal strip. Another bracket 36, in one end of which a contact screw 37 is mounted, is secured on a boss 38, similar to the boss 24, by a screw 39. This screw, which forms the second terminal of the device, is provided with a nut lO which is held in a nest 41 formed in the bottom of the chamber 12. The nest is of sufficient depth to assure that neither the nut nor the end of the screw can touch the flange 19 of the threaded ferrule. One end of the resistance wire 35 is secured under the head of the screw 32 while the other end is attached to the bracket 36. A washer L2, which is provided with openings for the terminal screws 26 and 39 as well as for the contact screw 37, is inserted in the end of the chamber 13. An opening 13 through which the electric wires are inserted is moulded in the bottom of the cap 11.

The flasher operates in the following manner: vVhen wires are attached to the terminals 26 and 39 and a current passes through 95 these wires, it will flow through the bracket 36, resistance wire 35, bracket 30, screw 29, center contact 2?, hence through the lamp inserted in the socket and back through ferrule 18, eyelet 21, bracket 25 to terminal 26. As we long as the current passes through the resistance wire the light in the lamp is dimmed. While the current flows through the resis ance wire the thermostatic strip is heated until it curves sufficiently to have its free end contact with the screw 37, after which the current is shorted through the screw and metal strip, thus allowing the lamp to give off its full light. As the thermostatic strip cools the contact between it and the screw is broken and the current is switched back through the resistance wire. The frequencies of the interruptions are regulated by the contact screw.

From the foregoing it will be evident that I have succeeded in providing a flasher particularly suited for use in signs and the like. Unlike the standard metal socket now in use, in which a separate flasher must be inserted, my socket gives ready access to the wire terminals so that the wire connections may be made with great ease. Furthermore, all adjustments and connections are made from the rear of the sign, and the whole device occupies less space than does the standard metal socket. To attach the device to a sign it is only necessary to cut a hole of suitable size in the card board or other material of which the sign is made, insert the socket part in the hole, attach the wires, and screw on the cap.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a 7

socket member having one end adapted to receive an electric lamp and the other end provided with a chamber, a thermostatic switch contained in said chamber for interrupting the current passing through the lamp, a head of enlarged diameter formed on the socket member, a thread provided on the body of the socket member, and an internally threaded cap which in combination with said head forms a means for securing the device to a suitable support.

2. In a device of the class described, a body member wherein is contained a lamp socket and a thermostat switch for interrupting the current passing through a lamp inserted in said socket, an enlarged head formed on one end of the body member, and a cap mounted on the other end of the body member which together with said head forms clamping means for securing the whole device to the support on which it is to be employed.

3. In a device of the class described, a body member wherein is contained a lamp socket and a thermostatic switch for interrupting the current passing through a lamp inserted in said socket, an enlarged head formed on one end of said body member, an external 7 thread provided on the other end of the body member, and an internally threaded cap mounted on the thread of the body member, said head and cap constituting the means whereby the whole device is clamped to the support on which it is to be emplo ed.

4:. In a device of the class descri ed, a

socket member having one end adapted to receive an electric lamp and the other end provided with a chamber, an adjustable thermostatic switch contained in said chamber for interrupting the current passing through the lamp, an enlarged shoulder formed on the :socket member, the socket member provided the lamp contained in said chamber, connecting terminals for connecting said switch to an electric circuit contained in said chamber, an enlarged shoulder formed on the socket member, the socket member provided with a thread, and a threaded member which in combination with said shoulder forms a means for attaching the whole device to a suitable support.

LOUIS LUDWIG.

ill; 

